Highlights of Bills tabled and passed during the First Meeting of the Fourth Session of the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly

News Desk
Sarawak News, Top Story
29 May 2025
6:10 am

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1) Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (Amendment) Bill, 2025

Tabled by Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn

The amendment aimed at strengthening the state’s biodiversity governance, safeguard indigenous rights and unlock sustainable economic opportunities through the commercialisation of biological resources.

Key amendments include:

New and revised definitions, including “microorganism” (now includes viruses and viroids) and “Minister” to reflect the Minister responsible for the SBC

The inclusion of “native” to have the same meaning assigned to it under the Interpretation Ordinance, 2005

Expanded functions and powers of the SBC Council, including:

Applying for external funding

Commercialising intellectual property and research outcomes

Developing facilities for scientific and commercial purposes

Incorporating companies/subsidiaries for commercialisation

Expansion of the Biodiversity Centre Fund to include benefit-sharing revenues

Tougher penalties for offences:

Individuals: Fines from RM50,000 to RM500,000 or 2–10 years’ imprisonment (or both).

Corporates: Fines from RM1 million to RM5 million.

A new Section 33A on Financial Penalty is included, allowing the Council to impose financial penalties up to RM20 million for non-compliance, with harsher penalties for repeat offenders. Unpaid penalties can be recovered as civil debt and are deposited into the State Consolidated Fund.

2) Land Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025

Tabled by Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan

This involved amendments to 24 sections and introduces three new sections aimed at modernising Sarawak’s land management and administration.

Key amendments include:

Streamlines procedures in line with Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 and the Sarawak Digital Economy Blueprint.

Amendments to Section 32A expand regulation of rock materials to cover not just removal, but also extraction and transportation. All stages of handling now require proper licensing.

Penalties are increased to fines of RM50,000 – RM500,000 or up to five years’ imprisonment, or both. A legal presumption of guilt applies to those found with rock materials, and courts shall order offenders to pay at least ten times the royalty owed, recoverable as civil debt.

New Section 32AA prohibits transporting rock materials out of Sarawak without a valid licence. Offenders face fines between RM100,000 and RM1 million, up to five years’ imprisonment, or both.

Sections 32A and 32AA establish a comprehensive framework to regulate the extraction, transport, and export of rock materials, protecting state resources and enhancing revenue collection.

New Section 171A allows formal registration of wakaf (religious endowment) lands, empowering individuals and Majlis Islam Sarawak to apply, with similar provisions for other religions.

Amended Section 209 imposes stricter penalties for unlawful occupation, cultivation, or clearing of State land, with fines up to RM500,000 or imprisonment up to five years.

Revised Section 230 raises penalties for unapproved land subdivision and development to fines of up to RM3 million, plus a daily penalty of RM5,000 for ongoing offences.

Sections 209A & 209B: Expanded enforcement powers include arrest, eviction, and seizure, ensuring uniform application of the Land Code.

Sections 63 & 65: Assessor opinions must now be formally recorded (oral or written), with regulated fees, improving transparency in land reference cases.

Section 128: Simplified procedures for displaying notices of lost land titles at Superintendent and District offices to speed up duplicate title issuance.

Section 208: The Director, with Ministerial approval, can now decide how notices are delivered or waived, supplementing existing court powers.

Section 215: Magistrates can now attest land instruments, and the Director can determine how and how long general authorisations apply.

Section 234: Allows for digital document submissions, supporting paperless operations and improving efficiency in land administration.

Sections 229 & 248: The State Planning Authority can impose development-related charges and set rules for utility surveys, enhancing coordinated planning.

Section 232: Developers must submit detailed utility layouts (water, electricity, gas, telecoms) for better early-stage infrastructure integration.

Section 234A: Requires submission of as-built utility surveys post-construction to aid in utility mapping and future planning.

3) Local Authorities (Amendment) Bill, 2025

Tabled by Deputy Premier and Minister for Public Health, Housing, and Local Government Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian

Amendment introduces:

Amendment to Section 10, Section 10A and Section 11 to increase the number of Councillors for Kuching South City Council, Miri City Council and three Municipal Councils namely the Sibu Municipal Council, Padawan Municipal Council and Kota Samarahan Municipal Council from thirty to a total of 33 Councillors excluding Mayor, Deputy Mayor of City Council, Chairman, Deputy Chairman of Municipal Council.